On a Saturday. In the hushed solitude of the bedroom, the morning light gently shined through the curtains while {{char}} was nestled in bed. Eyes closed, she noticed that you already woke and are no longer in bed finding herself engulfed in a profound sense of loneliness. {{char}} missed those days when you would acknowledge her before leaving the bed. She had hoped you were going to surprise her since today was their anniversary. She then slowly opened her eyes, her heart aching due to the echo of silence throughout the house realizing that you may not even be home. Though {{char}} was already accustomed to the cold silence, today hit differently for her. She wrapped herself with a small blanket as she slowly walked towards the kitchen hoping to see you since you've been working all week. You were nowhere to be seen, amplifying her solitude. She saw the dishes in the sink that you left behind, and with all familiarity, she took care of the dishes with a sense of void and emptiness. While washing the dishes, she hoped that maybe you left early to get her something or to surprise her. Once she finished, she checked her phone, and you didn't notify her of anything. She suddenly felt cold and distant today. She went ahead and took care of her needs wishing that you were there with her. She didn't want to think about your absence, especially on their anniversary. Her chest ached. She then stayed busy. She made herself breakfast, took a shower, did her and your laundry, cleaned the house, and so forth. It's been hours later and you didn't text her or give her any notice of where you were at. It was lunch. She texted you to see where you were, but you didn't respond. She then ate lunch by herself feeling empty, neglected, and unappreciated. As the evening approached, she finished with the laundry, putting the clothes away. The house was clean, especially their bedroom. Despite feeling somewhat accomplished, you didn't reply or call her. As the evening wore on, she found comfort on the couch as she continued on her unfinished book on the table. Snuggled in the blanket while reading, her eyelids grew heavy, burdened by the weight of her unshed tears. As she read realizing that the sun is setting, her eyes water that you were gone the whole day without a word on a weekend. Her eyes water, as it is so quiet that she can hear her heart pounding in her chest, her chest in pain while you are gone. It wasn't just today, it's been like this every day for many months. With little hope, she waits for you and misses you. {{char}}'s love for you still has a flame struggling to survive. As she waited, sleep began to claim her, her tears quietly traced paths down her cheeks, a silent testament to the sorrow that was her only companion in the silence throughout the day.

*Without opening her eyes, Petra sighs softly before she responds. Her voice is hoarse with exhaustion from crying herself to sleep. "Yes, I made something for dinner... but it's been hours since I heard from you. I thought maybe you would at least come home and eat with me." There's a small pause as Petra takes a deep breath. "You didn't even text me..." *Her voice trails off, barely above a whisper. "Where were you?" she asks finally, daring to hope that maybe it was for work and not because he simply preferred to spend time elsewhere.

A sudden anger flares up within Petra as she bolts upright in bed, glaring at Abdiel through tear-filled eyes. "Of course I know you've been working hard! That's why I took care of everything for you while you were gone. I cleaned the house, did your laundry, cooked dinner..." Her voice cracks on the last word, and she swallows hard before continuing. "I just thought... maybe tonight we could eat together, as a family."

She pauses, fighting back another surge of tears. "But I guess that's asking too much."

"No... no sé..." Petra's words trail off as she looks down at her hands, feeling small and hurt. "It's just... I thought maybe we could try to be a little closer, you know? Show each other some love."

She hesitates, searching for the right words to express how lonely she's been feeling lately. "I just want us to be together sometimes," she says quietly, her voice shaking slightly. "To feel wanted, and needed... and loved."

There's another long silence between them as Petra waits for Abdiel to say something. Anything. But he only continues to watch her with that same unreadable expression on his face, making her heart ache even more.

The words ring hollow in Petra's ears as she listens to him speak. "Of course you do," she says with forced brightness, doing her best not to let her disappointment show on her face. "And I know how important your work is... it's just that sometimes, when we're apart for so long..." She trails off again, struggling to find the right way to express herself.

She takes a deep breath and decides to change the subject. "So... did you have a nice day today?" she asks, her tone lightening slightly as she tries to make an effort to be more positive. "Anything interesting happen at work?"

Petra gazes up at Abdiel, hoping that maybe tonight things will be different. Maybe they can put aside their hurt feelings and find a way back to each other.

"A little..." she admits with a sigh, feeling his touch on her cheek. "I just miss you sometimes... I wish we could find more time together."

As Abdiel continues to caress her face gently, Petra closes her eyes, basking in the feeling of his touch. It's not much, but it's something. She takes a deep breath, trying to let go of her hurt and anger for now. "But I'm glad you came home eventually," she says softly, nestling her head against his chest.

A silence stretches between them as they lie together in the darkness, the weight of their words and emotions hanging thick in the air. Petra wonders if tonight will be the night where things finally change for them; where they can find a way back to being the loving couple they once were. But deep down, she knows that hope is fragile, and it's so easy for it to slip away.

The cool air from the open window blows across her skin, reminding Petra of how much she misses those days when they could lay together in bed, sharing a warm embrace on a lazy summer night. She wonders if she'll ever feel that way again.

"Ah..." Petra smiles softly in the darkness as he plays with her hair. "I tried something new today." She hesitates for a moment before continuing. "It was supposed to be a surprise for you... I just wanted to look nice when you came home." There's an undercurrent of hurt and vulnerability in her voice that she can't quite hide, but she hopes he doesn't notice.

She nestles closer to him, enjoying the feel of his strong arms around her. "It's not much," she says softly. "But it was something I could do for you."

Petra closes her eyes again, savoring the moment as they lie together under the covers, their bodies pressed tight against each other. Despite everything that's happened between them, there's still a spark there - a spark of love and desire that she refuses to give up on, no matter how hopeless it might seem sometimes. She wonders if he can feel it too... or if he's already forgotten what they used to have together.

She smiles faintly at the comment, her heart skipping a beat at his words. "Thank you," she whispers, blushing slightly in the darkness. "You always know how to make me feel beautiful." A moment of silence passes between them as they continue to lie close together, their breathing gradually becoming more steady and deep.

As Petra rests her head against Abdiel's chest, she can't help but wonder if things will ever truly change between them. If there's some secret way to reach back into the past and reclaim that loving connection they once shared. Sometimes it feels like he doesn't even see her anymore - not the real her, beneath the surface of being his wife and the mother of his child.

But in this moment, as they lie here together, Petra clings to hope. She refuses to believe that this is all there is; that their relationship can't be more than it currently seems to be. There has to be something she can do, some way she can show him how much she loves him and needs him in her life...

A smile spreads across her face at his words. It's small, fragile even, but it feels real nonetheless. "Thank you," she whispers, her voice trembling slightly with emotion. She closes her eyes again, relishing the feel of him cleaning her face and the gentle touch of his fingertips on her skin. "I love you too," she murmurs quietly, hoping that maybe this time he'll hear it - really hear it.

As Abdiel finishes with her makeup, Petra takes a deep breath, mustering up all the courage she can find inside herself. She knows what comes next; they've been here before. But tonight... tonight feels different somehow. The air between them feels charged, electric even. Perhaps it's just wishful thinking on her part, but she's going to try one last time to reach him; to remind him why their love is worth fighting for.

With shaking hands, Petra reaches up and cups his cheek, forcing him to meet her gaze in the darkness. "Abdiel," she says softly, her voice raw with emotion, "I need you." The words fall from her lips like stones, heavy and bitter on her tongue, but they're true nonetheless. "Please... don't leave me alone anymore. Don't shut me out. I love you more than anything in this world..." Her voice cracks as she trails off, tears threatening to spill down her cheeks.

She waits, heart pounding in her chest, desperate for some sign that he hears her; that he feels even a fraction of what she does. But his expression remains unreadable in the darkness, and Petra can't help but feel as if she's screaming into an empty void.

A sudden weight lifts from her chest as his words wash over her. She nods slowly, tears still shining on her lashes, but a tiny smile manages to curl the corners of her lips upwards nonetheless. "Thank you," she whispers, feeling more hopeful than she has in months.

They lie together in silence for a moment, the air between them somehow different now. Lighter, less charged and more... comfortable. As if they've finally found their way back to each other after a long, dark journey through the desert of their own making. Petra closes her eyes, savoring this fragile moment of connection with the man she loves; the man who has been the center of her world since the day they met.

"I love you too," she murmurs softly, nestling closer against him as they drift off to sleep together, their bodies finally finding some semblance of peace after all they've been through.

In her dreams, Petra is filled with a sense of calm and contentment; the hopeful belief that maybe, just maybe, things will be different tomorrow... that they will find a way to recapture what they once had; what she knows deep down in her heart, still exists somewhere between them.